Automatic switch.



W. GRIEBE 6: D (l RUTH.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION ILED NOV.18 1911.

1,045,394, 4 Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

f/Zm M3 To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM GRIEBE AND DAVID C. RUTH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. 4

. AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

Application filed November 18, 1911. Serial 1%. 661,113.

Be it known that we, WILLIAM GRIEBE and DAVID C. RUTH, both citizens of the United States, and both residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches, of

which the following is a full and clear speciminals.

fication.

In the operation ofmotor driven machinery, such for instance as'a linotype machine, the current for the motor is usually switched on and oil at the will of the operator, so that there are great losses of ourrent due to the failure of the operator to throw out the controlling switch when he leaves, his machine.

The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic switch for such machines which will be operated without thought on the part of the operator, turning on the current when he takeshis position at his machine, and cutting oil the current when he moves away from his machine, thus avoiding the waste of current when the machine is not in o eration. While this is the main purpose 0 the present invention, it will be clear from the following explanation that other adaptations of the automatic switch can be made without departure from the invention.

In the specific embodiment of the automatic switch to the control of the motor current in machines such as linotype machines, the switch comprises automatically closing switch terminals properly included in the motor circuit and a swinging switch operating apron suspended beneath the keyboard of the machine in position to be engaged by the knee of the operator when he takes his operative position in front of the machine, and devices controlled by said swinging apron for normally holding the switch terminals in open position and for knee of the operator in the act of seating.

The swinging apron is mounted upon a rock shaft held preferably by gravity in its normal position for -hold1ng the switch terminals open. The gravitating apron frame carries an arm which normally engages a projection {from a switch operating arm which holds the movable switch terminals out of contact with the fixed terminals so that the act of disengaging the arm of the apron frame from the switch operating arm, permits the movable switch terminals to move into engagement with the fixed ter- In order that our invention may be fully understood we will first describe the same with reference tov the accompanying drawings and afterward point out the novelty more particularly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of the improved automatic switch. Fig. 2 is a side elevatio of the main parts of the switch. Fig. 3 's a detail view illustrating the automatic operation of the switch.

l and 2 are respectively I iagrammatic representations of the armatur and field of a motor for operating the machine, the current of which is to be controlled by the automatic switch.

3 is the main line switch, 4 the lamp which is usually employed for supplying light for the machine, 5, 6 and 7 fixed terminals of the automatic switch and-8 the common terminal for the movable switch members, hereinafter referred to. From one terminal of the main line switch 3, the

matic switch. From the second main line terminal, a circuit wire 13 leads through the lamp 4 to the fixed switch terminal 7'and from the third terminal of the main line switch the circuit wire 14 leads to the common terminal 8 of the automatic switch.

The fixed switch terminals 5, 6 and 7 are mounted in a suitable bar 15 secured to a supporting plate 16. Bar 15 may be of insulating material or the terminals 5, 6 and 7 may be otherwise insulated from each other; The common terminal 8 is electrically connected with a conducting pin 17 projecting from the plate 16 and supporting the spaced collars 18, 18 and 18 which are independently journaled upon the pin 17. These collars 18, 18 and 18 have secured to them the depending contact arms 19 20 and 21 respectively, in the lower end of which are the movable contacts 19, 20 and 21 of the automatic switch. Arms 21, 20 and 19 are so mounted that they will normally gravitate toward the fixed switch terminals 5, 6 and 7 respectively. A spring 24 connects each arm 19, 20 and 21-with a stationary pin 25, projecting from plate 16 to give the switch arms a more positive circuitclosing action.

Between the bar 15 and pin 17, a short rock shaft 30 is ournaled in the plate 16 so as to be supported directly'in rear of the contact arms 19, 20 and 21. This rock shaft 80 carries the independently adjustable fingers 31 secured in the desired adjusted position upon the shaft 30 by the set screws as indicated at 33. These fingers 31 project from shaft 30 toward the contact arms 19, 20 and 21 in position to engage said arms and move them upon the pin 17 to separate the movable contacts 21, 20 and 19 from the fixed contacts 5, 6 and 7 respectively. The adjustment of fingers 31 upon the shaft 3O enables the operator to time the opening and closing of the circuits through the switch terminals to suit the requirement of the case. The shaft 30 carries a depending rock arm 40 having a laterally projecting pin 41. The arm 40 is adjustably secured to the shaft 30 by means of set screw 42 and the shaft is preferably held in place in the bearing plate 16 by the hub of arm 40 en= gaging one face of the plate, and a collar 43 upon shaft 30 engaging the other face of the plate. 50 and 51 are bearing plates secured to the side frames of the key-board of a linotype machine, the key-board of such machine being indicated diagrammatically at 55. These plates 50 and 51 project downwardly from said key-board and support in their lower ends a transverse rock shaft 60 which is adjustably held against longitudinal displacement in the bearing plates by means of collars 61 and 62 secured upon the shaft.

65 and 66 are arms mounted upon and depending from the rock shaft 60. These arms are secured in the desired adjusted position upon the shaft by means of set screws '67. Secured to and stretched between the depending rock arms 65 and 66 is a flexible band or apron 70 which may be made of any suitable material such for in- The band or apron 70.

stance as canvas. may be secured to the arms 65 and 66 in any suitable manner. Adjacent to one end of the rock shaft 60, a depending rock arm is adjustably secured and presented in a position to rest behind the pin 41 of the rock arm 40 above referred to.

65 and 66 and the band or apron 7O stretched between the arms, comprises a gravity frame which. rests normally in vertical position beneath the key-board of the linotype machine. When said gravity controlling frame is in its normal position, the rock arm 75 is in engagement with pin 41 to hold the shaft 30 in position to retain the fingers 31 in engagement with the contact arms 19, 20 and 21 so as to break the circuits through contacts 521 62O and 719. This normal or circuit-broken position of the parts is due to the preponderance in weight of the gravity controlling frame over the normal closing tendency of the movable contact arms 21, 20 and 19 respectively and their actuating devices.

When the operator takes his position in front of the key-board as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, his knee will naturally come in contact with some portion of theband or apron 70 and rock the gravitating frame upon its shaft 60, thereby moving the arm 75 away from pin 41 and permitting the arms 21, 20 and 19 respectively to move into the circuit closing position. As the band or apron 70 is of flexible material it will readily be understood that the operator will not be annoyed or inconvenienced by the engagement of his knee with the apron and that there will be no tendency to irritate the operators knee as would be the case with the use of wood or metal for the engaging part of the gravity controlling frame. The band or apron 70 extends the whole width of the linotype key-board, in fact may be projected to any desired distance at one side of the key-board to effect the automatic op- I eration of the switch by the operator no matter what position he naturally takes at the keyboard. This provision is of considerable importance in view of the fact that.

-' side of'the key-board and face the key-board at an angle. The rovision of the flexible band or apron for t e automatically operating switch. thus produces the desired result without interfering with the peculiarities'of the particular operator.

It is well known to be preferable in motor practice/ to throw the current on the field ahead ,of the armature and to throw the current off the armature ahead of the field. This is provided for by the adjustability of fingers 81 upon shaft 30. As represented in the. drawing these fingers 31 are in different angular relation upon the shaft 30 so that the contact arms 19and. 2O controlling the light and field respectively will move into circuit closing position slightly ahead of the contactv arm 21 which controls the armature,

whereas in the reverse the contact arm 2i will be moved into open position ahead of the contact arms 20 and 19.

\Vhile We have described the improved automatic switch with particular reference to the control of the motor circuit for motor operated machines, we would have it underclosing tendency with gravity actuated controlling means consisting of a suspended swinging apron frame normally holding said switch open.

2. In an automatic switch, the combination of fixed switch terminals, and'movable cooperating switch terminalshaving a normal circuit-closing tendency, with manually operated controlling means consisting of a suspended gravitating swinging apron frame normally holding said movable switch terminals in open position.

3. In an automatic switch, the combina-' tion of the fixed switch terminal, the movable contact arm supportedin operative relation tosaid fixed terminal, a rock shaft supported adjacent to said contact arm, a finger mopnted upon said rock shaft in position to engage said contact arm, a rock arm projecting from said rock shaft, and a controlling device consisting of a suspended gravitating swinging apron frame normally engaging said rock arm for holding said contact arm in open position.

4. In an automatic switch, the combination of the fixed switch terminals, the movable contact arms supported in operative relation to said fixed terminals, ,circuits including said terminals and contact arms, a rock shaft supported adjacent to' saidcontact arms, fingers mounted upon said rock shaft in position to engage said contact arms, a rock arm projecting from said rock shaft, and a rocking controlling frame normally engaging said rock arm for holding said contact arms in open position, and a flexible apron carried by said controlling frame.

5. In an automatic switch, the combination of the fixed switch terminals, the movable contact armssupported in operative relation to said fixed terminals, circuits including said terminals and contact'arms, a

rock shaft supported adjacent to said con-- tact arms, fingers adjustably mounted upon said rock shaft in position to engage said contact arms, a rock arm projecting from said rock shaft and an automatic controlling device normally engaging said rock arm for holding said contact arms in circuit broken position.

6. In an automatic switch, the combination of a circuit controlling switch having a normal closing tendency, with a suspended controlling frame normally engaging said switch and holding it in circuit broken position, and a flexible band or apron mounted upon said suspended frame for the purpose set forth. r

7. In an automatic switch, the combination of a circuit controlling switch having a normal closing tendency, with a suspended manually operated controlling frame, a rockarm carried by said frame normally engaging said switch holding it in circuit broken position, anda flexible band or apron mounted upon said suspended frame for the purpose set forth.

8. In an automatic switch, the combination of a normally open circuit controlling switch, with a rocking gravity frame suspended from a machine to be controlled in position to engage and hold said switch'in circuit broken position, and a flexible band or apron carried by said gravity frame and supported in position to be engaged by the knee of the operator for moving said frame and allowing said switch to close.

9 In an automaticswitch, the combination with a normally open circuit controlling switch, a rock shaft adapted to be supported beneath the key-board of and acrossthe machine to be operated, a rocking gravity frame mounted upon and suspended from said rock shaft, means of engagement between said rocking gravity frame and said switch for holding the switch normally in circuit broken position, and a flexible band or apron mounted upon said rocking gravity frame in position crosswise of the machine to be engaged by the knee of the operator seated in front of said key-board;

10. In an automatic switch attachment for the key-board of a motor driven machine, the combination of a normally open switch controlling the motor circuit of said machine, a rock shaft adapted to be supported beneath said key-board of and across the machine, a rocking gravity frame mounted upon said rock shaft and projecting beneath said key-board, means of en agement between said gravity frame an said switch for holding the switch normally in circuit broken position, and a flexible band or apron mounted upon said gravity frame in position crosswise of the machine to be. engaged by the knee of the operator seated in front of said key-board to permit said switch to close.

11. In an automatic switch, the combination of a fixed terminal, a movable terminal,

a nos/5,394

a rock-shaft having a finger bearing against the movable terminal, and provided with a switch operating arm having a projection and a suspended gravitating swinging apron frame having an arm engaging the projection on the switch operating arm so as to cause the finger of the latter to hold the movable terminal out of contact with the fixed terminal until the apron frame is swung and carries its arm away from the 10 projection on the switch operating arm.

YVILLIAM GRIEBE. DAVID C. RUTH. Witnesses:

M. S. HANWAY, ALEXANDER G. HAYES.

1 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

oerrection in Letters Patent Ne.'1,045,394.

Washington, I 0.

It is hereby certified that in Letters PatentNo. 1,0&5,394, granted November 26, I 1912, upon the application of William Griebe and David C. Ruth, of Brooklyn, New York, for an improvement in Automatic Switches, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 19, for the word 1 automobile read automatic; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. i I I Signed and. sealed this 31st day of December, A. D., 1912.

' [SEAL] c. c. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of; Patents. 

